Given the number of people involved in a CSE, including “outsiders”, the District may lose control of the outcome in a CSE meeting so when a parent does get past the delaying tactics, the DoSE will go to Phase Two: inviting the parent to attend a private “pre-meeting” to “discuss” your child’s case. Do not fall for this. There is no “pre” in this supposed pre-meeting; the ONLY purpose of this meeting is for the DoSE to get to the parents alone, without the presence of members of the CSE who might not tow the District line, and dupe them into signing away their rights. They will try to sweet-talk you (e.g., we will give you all sorts of nice things for your child without the “hassle” of having to go through a CSE), bully you (e.g, you are going to lose in the CSE and this is your only chance to get something for your child so take it or leave it), or frighten you (e.g., being “classified” as special education is bad for your child because it is a “stigma”, the child will be “labeled” for the rest of their life, it is “bad for their self-esteem”, etc.). Once the DoSE has you good and ready, a document will be produced for you to sign, often conveniently filled out for you BEFORE THE MEETING. The DoSE is very, very good at this sort of manipulation and many parents, foolishly believing that the DoSE has THEIR interests at heart, sign away their rights to a CSE in this “pre-meeting”. Your rights are the ONLY leverage you have and signing them away for any reason is NEVER required and extremely unwise. As many parents have learned the hard way, once you sign away those rights the District can do pretty much whatever they want and there will be nothing you can do about it. Those “sweet” promises you were made will be quickly forgotten. Never, ever attend any sort of “pre-meeting” or “private meeting” or “chat”. You are entitled to a CSE for your child so do not settle for anything less than a full CSE meeting.
